Florida's need to make deep budget cuts because of the recession may finally be over. A new budget forecast drawn up by state economists shows the state is expecting in 2013 to bring in enough money to meet its needs for public schools and health care programs while leaving $1 billion for reserves. [Source: AP]

With sweat and smarts, Pakistan-born Shahid Khan built a $3.4 billion manufacturing juggernaut from the ruins of an Illinois auto parts maker. To celebrate, he just bought one of the worst teams in the NFL, with the pledge of a similar turnaround. Only in America, folks.

Florida cities dominated real estate research firm Trulia's latest list of metro areas with the biggest increases in asking price. Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Miami and Orlando all cracked the top ten of the list. Read more from the Orlando Sentinel and Trulia.

Alligator trappers unhappy with Florida's payment system

Florida's alligator trappers don't shrink from wrestling with big reptiles, but they say they are tired of wrestling with the state's bureaucracy. They made that clear Wednesday as camo-clad trapper after camo-clad trapper stepped up to a microphone in a hotel ballroom to complain to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about how they'd been treated by the state agency that oversees their work. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

› Sum of success lies in Gainesville[North Central Florida Business Report] The story of how Gainesville became home to SumTotal, a corporation originally based in Silicon Valley, might not be as familiar to some. But the burgeoning global leader in human resource software is one of the innovation economy’s greatest success stories even though it has remained relatively unheralded.

› Sarasota-based MyUS.com gets infusion of capital[Sarasota Herald-Tribune] MyUS.com — the local company that receives and forwards mail and packages for international corporations, foreign nationals and expatriates — said it has received a "substantial" infusion of private capital.

› Expanded nuclear plant almost set to go [Miami Today] Florida Power & Light Co.'s upgrades at its Turkey Point nuclear power plant — among the most extensive in US history — are on track for the plant to start producing extra power within a couple of months, company officials said.

› Eyes wide shut [Sarasota Magazine] Peg Nadel—and others who benefited from her husband Art Nadel’s Ponzi scheme—say they never knew what he was doing. But did they just refuse to see the truth? An in-depth look at the Art Nadel Ponzi scheme scandal that rocked Sarasota.

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› Feds sign-off on early voting plans for 5 Florida counties [Florida Times-Union] The Department of Justice will not oppose new early voting plans for five Florida counties covered by the Voting Rights Act, according to documents filed Wednesday in federal court. The counties – Monroe, Hillsborough, Collier, Hardee and Hen dry -- must get approval from the federal government before making any election law changes due to histories of discrimination.

› Tampa 'hungry' for projects, filmmaker says[Tampa Tribune] An independent filmmaker, who snagged top awards at the most-recent Gasparilla International Film Festival, will wrap up production this week on "Chu and Blossom," a full-length feature filmed in Tampa.

› Miami moves to cement Madrid ties [Miami Today] After prolonging their handshake by almost four years, Miami and Madrid are looking to recommence and sign a sister city accord now more than six years in the making.